On May 12th and 13th, the Social Security Department of the ILO in collaboration with the Decent Work Country Team and Office for the Caribbean in partnership with the Cave Hill School of Business of the University of West Indies delivered an Executive Training Course on Social Security and the Social Protection Floor. Twenty one participants attended the course, including the Ministry of Labour, the National Insurance Board, Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, the Barbados Workers’ Union, Barbados Employers' Confederation as well as postgraduate candidates at the Business School.

The activity was inaugurated by Sir Roy Trotman, General Secretary of the Barbados Worker’s Union, member of the ILO’s GB and spokesperson of the ILO worker’s group. Sir Roy Trotman, among other issues, stressed the importance of addressing what he called two major multidimensional issues: governance of social security institutions and the establishment of a social protection floor for all.

The executive training activity included issues such as social security in the Decent Work agenda, the evolution of and social security reforms word-wide, financing, supervision and governance of social security institutions, the ILO and UN response to the global financial and economic crisis, the role of social security and social partners in the response to crisis and catastrophes, the social protection floor initiative, the recurrent discussion on social protection (social security) at the 100th session of the International Labour Conference, and the inclusion of social protection issues at the French G-20 agenda.

Read Sir Roy Trotman's opening speech

Le 16 et 17 mai 2011 a eu lieu l’atelier de formation "Vers un socle de protection sociale en Haïti". Cet atelier de formation à été organisé en collaboration avec la Confédération syndicale internationale (CSI) et la Confédération syndicale des travailleurs et travailleuses des Amériques (CSA) et la participation de l’ Association Des Industries d'Haïti (ADIH).

Suite au tremblement de terre de janvier 2011, tous les documents officiels nationaux et internationaux on reconnu l’importance de la mise en place d’un socle de protection sociale en Haïti. A fin d’avoir une compréhension partagée des acteurs sociaux, l’atelier de formation a débuté avec une présentation générale et une discussion sur la protection sociale, et son importance dans le contexte d’Haïti. L’atelier a aussi considéré les aspects théoriques de la mise en place d’un socle de protection sociale, ainsi que les défis (obstacles et opportunités) de sa mise en place graduelle. L’atelier a aussi passé en revue d’exemples concrets d’expériences de pays ayant mis en œuvre des tels socles de protection sociale.

En complément aux activités de formation aux partenaires sociaux, une séance formation a été organisée à l’intention des responsables du secteur de la protection de l’équipe de transition du nouveau gouvernement ainsi qu’avec les institutions su système multilatéral partenaires dans la construction du socle de protection sociale.

Los días 23 y 24 de mayo se llevaron a cabo 2 actividades de formación en materia de seguridad social en San José Costa Rica. La primera de ellas estuvo dirigida a 35 funcionarios de la Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) y sindicalistas con responsabilidades en el tema de la seguridad social. La segunda actividad tuvo lugar el 17 de mayo y coincidió con una reunión estatutaria de la Junta Directiva de la CCSS.

En dicha segunda actividad participaron los representantes de empleadores y trabajadores así como altos funcionarios de la CCSS. Adicionalmente, se contó con la presencia de las autoridades del Ministerio del Trabajo, del Ministerio de Hacienda y de la Superintendencia de Pensiones.

La formación tripartita incluyó los temas de mayor actualidad internacional en la materia, incluyendo los documentos a ser discutidos en la Conferencia Internacional del Trabajo en junio de 2011 en Ginebra, Suiza; el Piso Básico de Protección Social y la agenda de la próxima reunión del G-20 en Francia en la cual los temas del Piso Básico de la Protección Social, y la Seguridad Social son centrales.

En cuanto a la actualidad nacional y a solicitud de las autoridades de la CCSS, se abordó el tema de la teoría y la práctica de los sistemas de financiamiento y supervisión de los sistemas de pensiones en el mundo.

Dans le cadre du processus de réforme de son régime de retraite, le Royaume du Maroc a constitué une Commission technique qui doit analyser et donner son avis sur différents études actuarielles et projets de reforme. La Commission technique a une composition tripartite.  Le Gouvernement est représenté par le Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Formation professionnelle, par le Ministère de l'Economie et des Finances.  Les centrales syndicales font aussi partie de la Commission technique (UMT, CDT, FDT, UGTM et UNMT). Le patronat est représenté par la CGEM. Finalement, toutes les caisses du régime actuel de retraite sont aussi représentées : la Caisse Marocaine de retraite (CMR), le Régime d'allocation de retraite (RCAR), la Caisse nationale de Sécurité sociale (CNSS) et la Caisse interprofessionnelle marocaine de retraite (CIMR).

Le Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Formation professionnelle a demandé d'une part l'avis du BIT sur les études actuarielles et sur les propositions de reforme ; d'autre part, il a demandé la formation et actualisation des membres de la Commission technique. Dans le cadre des réunions statutaires de la Commission technique, des séances de formation sur les aspects financiers, actuariels et de gouvernance on été adressés à Rabat le 3 et le 4 aout 2011.

Les séances de formation on considéré les aspects théoriques et  les bonnes pratiques dans les processus de reforme des systèmes de retraite ainsi que la nécessité d'inclure ces reformes dans le cadre plus large des politiques sociales notamment celles destinées à la construction graduelle d'un socle de protection sociale.

On September 26th and 27th took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the Executive Training sessions organized jointly by SECSOC and ILO-Moscow to support capacity building of the tripartite constituents. Such training was co-funded by the RBSA Global Product funding at the HQ/SECSOC and ILO-Moscow TC project "From the crisis towards decent and safe jobs".

In Tajikistan, capacity building on social security is one of the priorities under the DWCP and CPO; In line with such priorities, the main purposes of this training were too support capacity building of the constituents;-to introduce the core concepts of the Social Protection Floor-Initiative in these countries and to explain the 100th ILC discussion on social security and eventually to facilitate submission of the answers to the R202 questionnaires in these countries. As a result, both Tajikistan submitted the answers to the HQ/SECSOC in time. Participants from the relevant ministries played the key roles in taking care of preparing the answers to R202 questionnaire after the ILO training.

Also, at the occasion of the training activity, consultations were held with the UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan, Mr. Alexander Zuev, on the possibility of introducing the SPF-I in Tajikistan. The response was very positive and it was agreed that a SPF rapid assessment will be carried out in Tajikistan to raise the SPF discussion at the higher level. ILO-Moscow will take further initiative in close collaboration with the UNRC (Zuev), ILO-Tajikistan and SECSOC.

The Executive training activity took place on September 29th and 30th. It was jointly organized jointly by SECSOC and ILO-Moscow to support capacity building of the tripartite constituents in Kyrgyzstan. This training was co-funded by the RBSA Global Product funding at the HQ/SECSOC and ILO-Moscow TC project "From the crisis towards decent and safe jobs".

The main purposes of this training were to support capacity building of the constituents;, to introduce the core concepts of the Social Protection Floor-Initiative in these countries and to explain the 100th ILC discussion on social security and eventually to facilitate submission of the answers to the R202 questionnaires in these countries. In relation to the R202 questionnaire, necessary follow-up actions were taken to facilitate submission of the answers to R202 questionnaire. As a result, Kyrgyzstan submitted the answers to the HQ/SECSOC in time. Participants from the relevant ministries played the key roles in taking care of preparing the answers to R202 questionnaire after the ILO training.

On the occasion of the training activity, technical discussions tok place with Ms. Derbisheva Gulnara, Deputy Minister of Social Protection, was organized. Mariko Ouchi explained the basic principles of DWCPs and past history of technical cooperation between the ILO and Kyrgyzstan.

The tripartite "Executive Training Course" held in Praia, Cape Verde on 10 and 11 November 2011, was delivered in partnership and in coordination between the Social Security Department, the ILO-International Training Centre in Turin and the STEP Program funded by the Ministry or Labour and Social Solidarity of Portugal.

The activity was inaugurated by Mrs. Dra. Janira Isabel Fonseca Hopffer Almada, Minister of Youth, Employment and Human Resources Development and by Mrs. Leonesa Fortes, President of the Governing Body of the National Institute of Social Security (INPS). Besides workers' and employers' representatives, there were also participants from the ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth, Employment and Human Resources Development and the INPS.

The training activity addressed the following issues:

• Social Security and Social Protection in the Decent Work Agenda.
• Evolution of thinking and reforms of social security and social protection schemes.
• Outcomes, perspectives and follow-up to the General discussion at the 100th Session of the International Labour Conference, including the discussion and possible adoption of Recommendation 202 during the 101th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2012.
• Strengths and challenges of the social security scheme in Cape Verde.
• Best practices on social dialogue, consensus building and reform of social security schemes.

The tripartite "Executive Training Course" delivered in Bissau, Guinée-Bissau on 14 and 15 November 2011 was delivered in partnership and in coordination between the Social Security, Department, The ILO-International Training Center in Turin and the STEP Program funded by the Ministry or Labor and Social Solidarity of Portugal.

The activity was inaugurated by Mr. Carlos Gomes Junior, Prime Minister of Guiné Bissau, by Mr. Joseph Mutaboba , Representative of the UN Secretary General and Chief of the Office for Peace Consolidation, and by Antonio Ricoca Freire, Ambassador of Portugal, as well as by Leones Fortes , President of the Governing Body of the National Institute for Social Protection of Cape Verde.

The training activity included the analysis of the role of social security and social protection instruments in reaching sustainable social and economic development. , the links between traditional social security schemes and social protection floors, the discussions on social security during the ILC 2011 as well as the forthcoming discussion, and possible adoption of Recommendation 202. Special sessions were held with officials responding to the ILO questionnaires on the follow-up to the ILC 2011.

The high-level participation of Mrs. Leonesa Fortes from Cape Verde allowed the participants to explore good and best practices and to enhance South-South collaboration. Moreover, during the activity a cooperation agreement was signed between the socil security institutions of Guiné-Bissau and Cape Verde.

The 100th International Labour Conference (2011) has reasserted the role played by International Social security standards in addressing poverty, inequality and contributing to development in the World. It has recommended that the ILO adopts a two pronged strategy to extend social security coverage by updating and promoting Convention 102 (social security minimum standards) and by providing guidance to constituents on the adoption of a Social Protection Floor (SPF) through the life cycle.

The 101st session of the International Labour Conference (2012) will debate and consider the possible adoption of a recommendation (R.202) on the implementation of national social protection floors.

Tanzania is exploring avenues to strengthen basic guarantees of social protection for all, in the framework of a coherent and strengthened social security system. The tripartite DWCP drafting committee has also identified the extension of social protection as one of the priorities for 2012-2015.

In view of these objectives, the ILO and the Tanzanian Social Security Regulatory Authority (SSRA) organized a tripartite Executive Training aiming to explore and build consensus on major avenues for reform.

This Executive Training had the following specific objectives:

• Providing the platform for discussion with SSRA board members and executive directors of social security institutions, as well as directors from Ministry of Labour in charge of social security on the architecture of coherent "multi-tier" social security systems;
• discussing the contribution of international social security standards, to building stronger social security systems and the appropriate role of each tier to achieve higher breadth and extent of coverage, and better adequacy and financial and social sustainability of social security;
• sharing conclusions of the 100th session of the ILC in June 2011, particularly on social security, and the preparation for a possible recommendation (R.202) on national social protection floors in 2012, and how Tanzania could be well placed to demonstrate progress; and
• setting the stage for future collaboration with the ILO in advancing national social protection floors within a national social protection policy.

The Executive training activity took place in Maputo on November 25th, 2011. Such training was considered an important and timely complement to the STEP-Portugal Program activities as well as to the national poverty reduction agenda (PARP) to foster social protection. Indeed, Mozambique's new poverty reduction strategy acknowledge numerous social problems and aims to overcome them through the achievement of more inclusive growth.

Strengthening social protection has emerged as one of key policy interventions under the PARP to promote more inclusive growth. The PARP advocates that affordable and well targeted social protection systems play an important role, along with better access to health and education quality services, in developing a strong and skilled workforce. Recent price spikes in the global market for food staples accentuate the need to protect extremely vulnerable groups who depend on safety nets for survival literally from one day to the next.

The PARP has also reinforced the reform momentum that social protection policy observed lately through the approval of a new Regulation for Basic Social Security (RBBS) in December 2009, the National Strategy of Basic Social Security (ENSBB) in April 2010, and, more recently, the approval by the Council of Ministers in September 2011 of the new Programs that will constitute the operational ground of the ENSBB.

These institutional reforms have laid the foundation towards the establishment of a Mozambican Social Protection Floor, including: first, a comprehensive legal and policy framework for social security in line with the Social Protection Floor principles; second, the explicit recognition by the PARP that the extension of the social protection coverage is one of its main goals and the progressive increase in sector budget allocation.

The training program included an update on recent international developments in the social protection field, the outcomes of the ILC 2011 as well as the possible adoption of a recommendation (R.202) by the 101st session of the ILC, in June 2012. The Bachelet report as well as the outcomes and stake of the discussion at the Sixth G-20 Summit were also addressed.

On March 13th and 14th, the Social Security Department of the ILO in collaboration with the Decent Work Country Team and Office for the Caribbean in partnership with the Labour and Management Development Center, Faculty of Economics of the Chulalongkorn University delivered an Executive Training Seminar: "Securing Development: New Paths for Social Protection".

Twenty six participants attended the course, including The Secretariat of the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Interior, the Social Security Office (SSO), Bureau of Savings and Investment Policy, Ministry of Finance, the Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board, the Health Insurance System Research Office (HISRO), the Labour and Management Development Center, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), the National Congress Private Industrial of Employees (NCPE), the Employers' Confederation of Thailand, the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, Department of International Relations, Webster University, UNWOMEN, HelpAge, UNFPA, as well as postgraduate candidates.

The primary focus of the training was to present and revise with key stakeholders, basic social security principles, standards, financing and governance issues for non-technicians. The training activity also aims at updating participants on the current discussions, trends and developments on social security and social protection both in the national and international fora.

The training activity also aims at updating participants on the current discussions, trends and developments on social security and social protection, in particular:

• The Conclusions of the "Recurrent discussion on social protection (social security) under the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (International Labour Conference, 100th Session).
• Overview of the forthcoming Standard-setting discussion on the "Elaboration of an autonomous Recommendation on the social protection floor" at the 2012 International Labour Conference, 101st Session, 2012.
• The report of the Advisory Group chaired by Michelle Bachelet and convened by the ILO with the collaboration of the WHO that will be presented during the forthcoming G-20 meeting in France "Social protection floor for a fair and inclusive globalization".
• Current state of the art activities by ILO in Thailand, in particular on the initiative for the social protection floor.

Alejandro Bonilla García
Chief of Education, Training and Capacity Building
Social Security Department
International Labour Office
Geneva, Switzerland
E- Mail: bonilla@ilo.org
Tel: +41 22 799 66 33

María-José Escriche
Secretariat
Social Security Department
International Labour Office
Geneva, Switzerland
E- Mail: escriche@ilo.org
Tel: +41 22 799 6268